[Subcapsular haematoma of the spleen as complication of chronic pancreatitis. Contribution of echotomography to the diagnosis in two cases (author's transl)].

Two men aged 28 and 33 were found to have subcapsular haematoma of the spleen secondary to chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. One of the patients presented with a pancreatic pseudo-cyst, left amylase pleural effusion and thrombosis of the splenic vein. Selective coeliac and mesenteric angiography and, chiefly, echotomography pointed to the diagnosis, which was confirmed on abdominal incision and histopathological study of the lesions. From these two cases and a review of 63 cases previously published the authors describe the clinical symptoms (acute anaemia with abdominal tumour), pathogeny (vascular or enzymatic) and diagnosis of the condition. Echotomography of the pancreas seems to be the best non invasive method to detect splenic complications of chronic pancreatitis.